1 Timothy 2

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: 1 Timothy

Rusty's Notes

63 AD
- Timothy sends word to Paul in Colosse that the Ephesian church is being ravaged by false teachers.

Crisis in Ephesus

• Here is what they are teaching:
  • Eve is both a mediator and redeemer figure who pre-existed Adam. (1 Tim 2:5, 13-14)
  • Man came into existence because of a woman, and he was given enlightenment through the woman. Since Eve was the first to take a bite from the Tree of Knowledge, she is the bearer of special spiritual knowledge (called gnosis).
  • Women are called to lead people to the illuminating gnosis which was represented by the Tree of Knowledge. Redemption completely reversed the effects of the Fall so that men are no longer subject to earthly authorities and women are no longer subject to their husbands. (1 Tim 2:9-15)

 

• Those in the Ephesian church who are accepting this heresy prefer the leadership of women over men.
• Male teachers were the first to spread the false doctrine in Ephesus. (1 Tim 1:20; 2 Tim 2:17)
• But it finds fertile ground among the women in the church. (1 Tim 4:7; 2 Tim 3:6-9)
• The homes of the Ephesian women provide a network by which the heresy is spread rapidly through “gossip.” (1 Tim 3:11; 5:13-15)
• Some of the women are teaching the heresy in the church meetings and are lording it over (dominating) the men.
• They have also accepted the ideals of the “new women” of the Roman Empire. They are dressing in an immodest and exploitive way (like that of prostitutes) and are defying other accepted norms regarding marriage and family.
• Under ancient Roman law, you are what you wear. The way that wives dressed in public sent clear signals to men—signals that they were either modest or promiscuous women. As stated earlier, “the new women” of the Roman Empire were liberated married women who pursued their social lives at the expense of their families and who defied previously accepted norms of marriage fidelity and chastity. They were sexually promiscuous and dressed to seduce. Because Paul was a liberator of women, it is not difficult to see that some Christian women associated his views on a woman’s freedom with the immoral ideals of the “new women.” For a detailed discussion on how the women in Ephesus were being influenced by the ideals of the “new women,” see Bruce Winter’s Roman Wives, Roman Widows: The Appearance of New Women and the Pauline Communities (Eerdmans), Chapters 6–7.”

 

• Paul gives Timothy practical instructions on how to do it.
  • One solution is to forbid the women who are peddling the false doctrine from teaching in the meetings.
  • He also addresses the problem of the Ephesian women accepting the ideals of the “new women” in their dress (2:9ff).

 
Excerpt from: Viola, Frank. “Untold Story of the New Testament Church.” Destiny Image, Inc., 2010-03-10. iBooks.
 
1 Timothy 2
1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,

• “Then” – In reference to the 2 men who had been turned over to Satan because of their lack or repentance.
• He was not outlining church organization, but he was confronting errors and heresies already underway[1]
• “First of all” - Pray

2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

• Godless Emperor Nero was on the throne at that time, and yet the believers were supposed to pray for him!
• Even when we cannot respect men or women in authority, we must respect their offices and pray for them.[2]
• Praying for them is for our own good – to live in peace with ourselves.

3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,

• Because our lives would be based upon love and respect.
• “I can’t respect…” still focused on you.
• You miss this and you live in torment… not peace.

 
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

• The term “all/everyone” in v. 4 must refer to the same group as the reference to “everyone” in v. 1.
• The petitions of v. 1 are to include all human beings, and the objects of Christ’s death must include the same group.
• It would certainly include all persons without distinctions of race or social standing, but it also refers to all persons individually[3]

5 For there is one God
and one mediator between God and humanity,
Christ Jesus, Himself human,

• “Mediator” necessary
• “human” – identifies with us

6 who gave Himself—a ransom for all,
a testimony at the proper time.

• John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world…”

7 For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
 
8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.

• Morally pure hands
• Not in dispute with others.
• Sometimes this is a posture in prayer.
• Our traditional posture of bowing the head, folding the hands, and closing the eyes is nowhere found or commanded in Scripture.
• Actually, there are many prayer postures found in the Bible: standing with outstretched hands (1 Kings 8:22); kneeling (Dan. 6:10); standing (Luke 18:11); sitting (2 Sam. 7:18); bowing the head (Gen. 24:26); lifting the eyes (John 17:1); falling on the ground (Gen. 17:3).
• The important thing is not the posture of the body but the posture of the heart.[4]

 
9 Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, 10 but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God.

• Acceptable standards of modesty will vary with place and generation
• Most people can even see through “classy”
• Paul’s point is that genuine faith in God should display itself in holiness.[5]
• He did not forbid the use of nice clothing or ornaments.
• He urged balance and propriety, with the emphasis on modesty and holy character.[6]
• Women will pursue other women.
• Do you want to be pursued because of your style or behavior?
• Do you want to be pursued because of your maturity and wisdom?
• We must never underestimate the important place that godly women played in the ministry of the church.
• The Gospel message had a tremendous impact on them because it affirmed their value before God and their equality in the body of Christ (Gal. 3:28).
• Women had a low place in the Roman world, but the Gospel changed that.
• There were devoted women who ministered to Jesus in the days of His earthly ministry (Luke 8:1–3). They were present at His crucifixion and burial, and it was a woman who first heralded the glorious news of His resurrection. In the Book of Acts we meet Dorcas (Acts 9:36ff), Lydia (Acts 16:14ff), Priscilla (Acts 18:1–3), and godly women in the Berean and Thessalonian churches (Acts 17:4, 12). Paul greeted at least eight women in Romans 16; and Phebe, who carried the Roman epistle to its destination, was a deaconess in a local church (Rom. 16:1).
• Many believing women won their husbands to the Lord and then opened their homes for Christian ministry.[7]

11 A woman should learn in silence with full submission.

• “Silence” is an unfortunate translation because it gives the impression that believing women were never to open their mouths in the assembly.
• This is the same word that is translated “peaceable”[8]
• Paul was not demanding physical silence but a teachable spirit.[9]
• “Submission” – We have made this such a negative term in relation to women. I get it.
• But we have also distorted the idea of “submission”
• It is about the rank of the “role”… not the rank of value or ability.
• You submit every day… if you don’t… you can look at the news and see what happens.
• Submit to what? Those who were in Biblical authority.
• They were being taught freedom with the Gospel but they interpreted that as “freedom with their flesh” rather than “freedom with their spirit”.

12 I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent.

• Women are permitted to teach.
• Older women should teach the younger women (Titus 2:3–4).
• Timothy was taught at home by his mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15).
• But in their teaching ministry, they must not “lord it over” men.
• There is nothing wrong with a godly woman instructing a man in private (Acts 18:24–28); but she must not assume authority in the church and try to take the place of a man.
• She should exercise “quietness” and help keep order in the church.[10]

13 For Adam was created first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. 15 But she will be saved through childbearing, if she continues in faith, love, and holiness, with good judgment.[11]

• She will receive fulfillment through her role as a parent in the household.

How I led my youth ministry for years has influenced how I lead Leavener currently.
 
How I lead my family will influence my family to come.

• Chloe

1. How would you describe how your Mom and I manage our family?

• Team
• Make decisions together
• You’re the leader… she is the co-leader
• If you are OK with it then she is OK with it
• Cory and I are the same… OK with it if you are.

 
       2. Who is the teacher?

• Mom is the street teacher – life skills
• Dad is the mental teacher

 
       3. What is the one thing that defines our marriage?

• You take care of each other’s needs

 
       4. What is the one thing I could work on in our marriage?

• Be more caring in the small things.
• You satisfy in the big areas… give encouragement.

 
      5. What would it look like if Mom was the leader?

• Cory and I would get whatever we want.
• Mom satisfies the wants
• Dad satisfies the needs

 
      6. What is the one thing that has been modeled that you want to carry on to your family?

• You care about what we are doing and how we are feeling.
• Even though it is annoying sometimes… a lot of the times.

 
      7. What is the one thing that has been modeled that you don’t want to carry on to your family?

• I probably could answer that better when I am mad

 
      8. Would you say your mom submits to me?

• Yes

 
      9. Is it a bad thing? Why?

• No… not really
• Because it is not unreasonable
• She does it because she loves you & trusts you (huge)
• You don’t have to ask a lot to each other
• If you didn’t trust each other you be miserable.

[1] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, pp. 84–86). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 215). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 89). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 216). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Ti 2:10). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 218). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 218). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 218). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 98). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[10] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 218). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[11] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Ti 2:1–15). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.